Improvement in tanning leather



UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFIcE.

PHYLANDER DANIELS, or LE nor, nssrenon TO HIMSELF AND s. H. BARNES, on NEW YORK, N. (Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN TANNING LEATHER.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 31,349, dated February 5, 1861.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PHYLANDER DANIELS, of Le Boy, in the county of Genesee and State of New York, have invented or discovered certain Improvements in the Process of Tanning Leather; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

I have discovered that by the employment of certain well-known materials in certain quantities in combination, or so as to succeed each other in a certain manner, I can produce leather of a superior quality and with the consumption of but little time.

The ordinary process of tanning, in which oak or hemlock bark is employed, produces aleather of good quality, but consumes much time. Various processes have been devised for tanning quickly, in many of which the substances known as terrajaponica or cutch have been used; but these gums employed by themselves produce an inferior product, the leather thus tanned wanting in softness and flexibility. Tormentilla and nut-galls have also been at various times used, but not in connection with each other and with terra-j aponica, so as to produce the efiect realized in my invention. I have discovered that by the use of the three substances together, in the manner hereinafter more fully described, I am enabled to complete the operation speedily and effectually, and at the same time to produce leather of a quality superior to that tanned by the common barks.

To enable others skilled in the art to use my improved process or compound, I will proceed to describe it.

I first make a solution of terra-japonica or cutch to stand at 8 of the barkometer, to which I add a small proportion of alumsay, one-half of one per cent. of the cutch-put in, when dissolving, for the purpose of clarifying the gum. To a sufficient quantity of this solution to cover twenty-four skins I add the liquor made by steeping two pounds of t'ormentilla or sept-foil and two pounds of nutgalls. After handling the skins in this liquor I add a quarter of a pound of sal-ammoniac dissolved in water. The third day I add one pound of rock-salt, the fifth day one-half pound of saltpeter, and the tenth day a quarter of a pound of sal-ammoniac, each to be dis solved in water before adding. I then add, daily, a quantity of a strong solution of terrajaponica or cutcl1say.40 or 45-until the liquor indicates 15 by thebarkometer, at which point I keep it stationary until the skins are properly tanned, which usually occupies about two weeks. The hides are handled daily in the ordinary way during the entire process. In commencing for a new pack, after this is finished, I dilute the old liquor by adding water to the required 8 or 10, and then proceed as before, except reducing the proportion of the sal-ammoniac to about one-half, as a portion of the former charge is retained in the liquor. By the application of these materials in the manner and about the proportions herein specified I am enabled to produce leatherpossessing a high degree of suppleness and general excellence of quality, the skins being superior, as I believe, to any heretofore produced in this country, and approaching Very nearly,if not equaling, in appearance and quality the French skins.

Having now fully described my improvement, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In tanning leather, the use of tormentilla and nut-galls in connection with cutch or terrajaponica in about the proportions herein set forth.

2. In tanning leather with the abo ve-designated substances, the within-described method or processto wit, the application, first, of a solution of cutch, tormentilla, and nut-galls, in the proportions and strength specified, the subsequent addition of the salts specified, and the ultimate strengthening of the liquor to the proper degree to complete the tanning by the addition of a strong solution of cutch or terrajaponica alone.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

PHYLANDER DANIELS.

\kVitnesses:

THOMAS D. STETSON, WM. B. SMITH. 

